But even with this documented developing threat, this alert avoids mentioning an inconvenient truth to you. The article shares a few handy hints, implying you (yes you) can use antibiotics responsibly.

But despite all of your personal caution, the global animal industry's very model depends on routine (not prescribed) antibiotics.

"There's little point in a nationwide campaign to reduce the amount of antibiotics we humans use if at the same time we turn a blind eye to the massive use of antibiotics in agriculture."

Clean green New Zealand

If like me, you are lucky enough to live in clean green New Zealand, you might think our system is not as bad as the rest of the world. And you are right - Sir Peter Gluckman says so. If only "not as bad" were good enough. 60 per cent of the total amount of antibiotics used in New Zealand are used on farmed animals, and even if they don't end up in the final product that you eat, they don't disappear.

Experts in New Zealand know we use antibiotics in animal agriculture. They talk a lot about "minimisation" - surely a case of locking the barn door after the superbugs have bolted.

The full WHO report says it "will also be of interest to the other sectors that are directly involved, including veterinary drug and animal husbandry, agriculture and aquaculture." And was it just in 2011 that we were talking about the last latest WHO report?

These facts need to be part of any antibiotic discussion, anywhere. And especially in a national news report aimed at you, the consumer, who can vote with your money. You can go vegan. You can boycott any product from animals treated with antibiotics. You can make real change.

FACEBOOK COMMENTS:

100%. The medical establishment here in the U.S. is raising concerns about anti-biotic resistance showing up on all levels. AND the residues of said is present in all public supplied drinking water. Residue of ALL drugs end up in water - drinking water, lakes, rivers and ultimately the ocean. It's terrifying. I know individuals who take prescription anti-biotics and other medications ALL the time. (A lot of the time it is completely unnecessary to take anti-biotics such as for the common cold). And people don't think about where their water goes once they flush a toilet. As vegans we tend to be far more aware of everything than non-vegans. I say this from personal experience. Non vegans appall me with their ignorance on basic issues such as medications/drugs and where their residue ends up.

Animal agriculture is the biggest offender and we must do more. Water on our planet is now the hugest precious resource - bar none!!! And super bugs may very well be our Meteorite, the one that wipes out most of life as we know it.